Ravens Safety Reed Wants a New Deal

It always seems like we are searching for worthy posts and stories to fill up time before training camp. Well, let’s thank Ed Reed for making our jobs at Ravens Gab easier.

This was taken from the Baltimore Sun’s Ravens Insider:

Ed Reed isn’t retiring this season. In fact, it appears that he is looking to the future.

Reed has contacted the Ravens about a new contract, the Pro Bowl safety said in a Tuesday interview on 105.7 The Fan.

One of the most dominant safeties in NFL history, Reed has three years remaining on a six-year contract extension that he signed June 2006. He is scheduled to earn $6 million in 2010, $6.5 million in 2011 and $7.2 million in 2012.

“I’m not making it a big deal,” Reed said on The Norris and Davis Show. “[But] I think it needs to be taken care of.”

A Ravens spokesman said the team would not respond to Reed’s comments.

My initial reaction was – huh?

I mean the timing of this announcement doesn’t make a lot of sense. As of right now Reed is by his words, “35 percent” and even though he is shooting to be ready for the season opener Monday night against the Jets he can’t gauge how his hip will respond because he can’t even train yet.

So why would he publicly state that he wants a new deal?

Some of his logic is based on comparisons to safeties Ken Hamlin and Roy Williams and that he feels that he has maintained a high level of play while the others have since switched to other teams. It’s interesting to note that Hamlin just signed with the Ravens because Reed’s status is so unclear at the moment.

I’m still not quite following him though. He’s under contract for the next three seasons and he was given a record setting signing bonus (15 million) for safeties at the time. He has zero leverage at this point with his health being such a concern. In fact, he missed 4 games last season not due to the nerve impingement in his neck but rather his hip.

It will be very interesting to see how the front office plays this one. Reed is wildly popular among teammates and fans and is a sure Hall of Fame candidate when he does retire. Would they simply re-structure his deal to front load more money? Would they take a hard line stance with Reed and simply use a wait and see method on his progress?

Whichever the option I’m sure the Ravens will take their time. I know that the team has rewarded players in the past with large contracts and signing bonuses for their contributions. But is it smart to guarantee so much money to a player that may never suit up again?